Salvia plant named ‘BARSAL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘BARSAL’ is disclosed, characterized by an attractive upright plant habit, easily producing lateral branches. ‘BARSAL’ produces violet flowers continuously from May to November. The new variety is a  Salvia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Salvia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘BARSAL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery by the inventor,Michel Barrault, a citizen of France. The new variety was discovered asan individual seedling during 2010 t a commercial nursery in Maine deLoire, France. The parent varieties are unknown, however the inventor'sbest information leads him to believe the seed parent is the commercial,unpatented variety Salvia gregii ‘Lycoides’. The pollen parent isunknown.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ by vegetative cuttingswas first performed at the same commercial greenhouse in La Possoniere,France in 2010 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivarare stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BARSAL’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BARSAL’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BARSAL’ as a new and distinct Salvia cultivar:

-   -   1. Violet colored flowers.    -   2. Well shaped, upright plant habit.    -   3. Continuous flowering from May to November.    -   4. Easy branching.    -   5. Larger flower size.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISONS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ can be compared to the unpatentedvariety Salvia gregii ‘Lycoides’. Plants of ‘BARSAL’ are similar toplants of, Salvia gregii ‘Lycoides’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ areoverall taller, and produce lateral branches more easily. ‘BARSAL’ alsoproduces flowers that are more true violet, less violet-blue coloredthan Salvia greggii ‘Lycoides’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ can also be compared to theunpatented variety Salvia gregii ‘Diane’. Plants of ‘BARSAL’ are similarto plants of, Salvia ‘Diane’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ are taller and morevigorous, and flower all Summer. ‘BARSAL’ also produces darker purpleflowers than ‘Diane’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ can also be compared to theunpatented variety Salvia hybrid ‘Nuit d'Armor’. Plants of ‘BARSAL’ aresimilar to plants of, Salvia hybrid ‘Nuit d'Armor’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ aretaller, more upright, and less spreading than plants of Nuit d'Armor.Additionally, flower color of ‘BARSAL’ is violet, compared to the blueflowers of ‘Nuit d'Armor’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color aflowering plant of ‘BARSAL’. Age of the plant is approximately 18months.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical flowering spike of ‘BARSAL’grown outdoors, in a garden.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘BARSAL’ plants grown outdoors at a commercialnursery in Possonniere, France. The growing temperature ranged from 8°C. to 28° C., day and night. The nursery area is un-shaded, givingbright, normal sunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia hybrid ‘BARSAL’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 days at approximately 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 20 to 25 days at 20° C.-   Root description: Fibrous, well branched. Colored near RHS    Grey-Brown N199A.

PLANT

-   Plant height: Approximately 60 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 80 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Plants branch easily from a pinch. Upper    portion of plant branches easily on its own, making new branches    approximately every 5 to 15 cm.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 30 to 35 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.20 to 0.30 cm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: About 50 to 60.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Young: Near RHS Green-Yellow 145A and oldest: Near            RHS Greyed-Orange 165A.        -   Texture/pubescence.—Non pubescent, very slightly scaly.-   Internode length: Approximately 3.0 to 4.5 cm.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 30 weeks in a 2 liter    container.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Type.—Single.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 12 to 16 per main branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 3.0 to 5.8 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.0 to 1.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Shallow crenate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Non pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Non pubescent.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow green 138A.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow green 138A. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS green 137A. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS green 138A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            yellow green 145A. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144B upper side. Under side near Yellow-Green            144C.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 1.0 to 1.4 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green            144B. Texture: Glabrous. Strength: Flexible.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: May to November in France.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Bilabiate flowers arranged in    verticillasters on spikes. Corolla self-cleaning, calyx persists.-   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 9 days.-   Fragrance: Faint to none.-   Quantity of flowers: About 12 to 16 buds and 8 to 10 fully opened    flowers per lateral branch, at one time; or about 50 to 60 blooming    spikes per plant, on a 1 year old plant. Mature plants, more than 2    years old can have 200 blooming spikes.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Diameter/width.—Approximately 4 to 6 cm.        -   Height.—Approximately 12 to 16 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 5.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Orientation.—Nearly completely vertical (10 degrees angle).        -   Strength.—Rigid.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent ridged.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Average 0.50 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.10 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187A.        -   Orientation.—Approximately 35 degrees from peduncle.        -   Strength.—Rigid.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent ridged.-   Individual flowers:    -   -   Length.—Average 2.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—Fused: flower-cup with 2 lips.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—Lower lip: 1.1 to 1.2 cm upper lip: 1.8 to 2.0 cm.        -   Width.—Lower lip: 1.1 to 1.4 cm upper lip: 0.2 to 0.4 cm.        -   Petal quantity.—2 lips.        -   Petal apex shape.—Lobate for lower lip.        -   Texture.—Smooth to somewhat velvety.        -   Color.—Petals: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet            N88A. Lower surface: Near RHS Violet N88A. Fully opened:            Upper surface: Near RHS Violet N88A. Lower surface: Near RHS            Violet N88A. Fading: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet 86A.            Lower surface: Near RHS Violet 86A.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Elongated cylinder.        -   Length.—0.8 to 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 to 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Violet 83A.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Fused cylinder.        -   Quantity per flower.—3.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 to 1.2 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately largest 0.3 cm and 2 smaller: 0.2 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Inner and outer surfaces: Background color near RHS            Green 138A, covered in a heavy flush of Violet 83A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—2.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.8 to 0.9 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.15 cm.        -   Diameter.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Violet 83B.        -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow orange 17B. Quantity:            Moderate.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 to 1.4 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1.0 to 1.2 cm. Color: Near RHS            Violet 84D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS Violet 86A. Ovary            color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Infrequent seed production. When seeds do occur,    approximately 4 seeds per flower, spherical shape. Approximately 1    mm in diameter. Dark Grey-Brown in color, not accurately measured    with RHS chart due to size.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Salvia have been observed. Variety    exhibits normal resistance to diseases and no exceptional    susceptibility or tolerance to pests.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    approximately between 5 to 35° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named‘BARSAL’ as herein illustrated and described.